Chairperson Lee Chan-hee of Samsung's compliance oversight committee said on the afternoon of the 24th, meeting with reporters ahead of the first regular meeting of the 4th committee held at the Samsung Life Insurance Seocho building in Seocho-gu, Seoul, "Among the many mountains Samsung has to cross, the big mountain is labor-management relations."
He added, "In relations with the union, the committee has communicated with the labor-management relations advisory group so far, received many reports, and held discussions on them," and said, "As I begin my third term this time, I will work to have closer communication in relations with the union."
Chairperson Lee was appointed Chairperson of the 2nd compliance oversight committee in Feb. 2022 and will continue as Chairperson through the 3rd and now the 4th term. The 4th committee secured expertise in the labor-management field by appointing Commissioner Kim Kyung-seon, an expert in labor and women's policy, and Commissioner Lee Kyung-mook, an expert in corporate organization and personnel management, as new commissioners.
Samsung Electronics, where the first majority union since its founding has emerged, is seeing deepening labor-management conflict. On the 19th, the joint bargaining group including the supra-enterprise union, the National Samsung Electronics Union, and the Samsung Electronics Union Donghaeng officially declared a breakdown in 2026 wage talks and filed for mediation with the National Labor Relations Commission.
Regarding the breakdown in labor-management negotiations, Chairperson Lee said, "Both sides will need to make concessions," adding, "We will study ways to bridge the gap through close consultation and communication with the union."
The 4th committee plans to focus on expanding the achievements of the 3rd committee in areas such as ▲ management that respects human rights ▲ transparent and fair management ▲ ESG management. Chairperson Lee said, "We are continuing to push for strengthening board independence and enhancing the duties of the compliance officer and monitor," adding, "We will also keep seeking solutions for the vertical governance structure linked by the Insurance Business Act."
The committee has repeatedly noted the need for Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong to return as a registered director, but the proposal for his return as a registered director was not included on this year's shareholders meeting agenda. Chairperson Lee said, "From a governance perspective, it remains desirable for the chairman, as a registered executive, to step directly to the front lines of management and practice responsible management," while adding, "However, that is only at the level of principle, and the company is likely giving it much thought as well."
He also said, "We have not yet gone through a voting process within the committee to formally deliver this position to the company, and at present there is a certain level of consensus among the commissioners."